3rd Prosecutor Position Approved

December 04, 1990|By MARK STEINBERG Staff Writer

JAMES CITY (COUNTY) — The Board of Supervisors Monday approved $2,500 to help pay a third prosecutor in the Commonwealth's Attorney's office.

The action clears the way for Williamsburg-James City County Commonwealth's Attorney George C. Fairbanks IV to hire the attorney, pending final approval by the Williamsburg City Council and the State Compensation Board.

Fairbanks said he will fill the position by Feb. 1.

Fairbanks has said a growing caseload due to drug-related prosecutions and increased enforcement of drunken driving laws has made the position necessary.

The City Council last month approved $4,000 to help pay for the third attorney, contingent on approval of funds by the supervisors and the compensation board.

But Fairbanks was notified Nov. 8 that, because of the state's revenue shortfall, the compensation board would not contribute $10,000 toward the new position, forcing Fairbanks to find other ways to fund the slot.

Fairbanks told the Board of Supervisors he could use money budgeted to pay law students who work in his office.

One law student, who has worked in his office for three years, is leaving Dec. 21, and Fairbanks has received federal money to pay two others.

According to Sanford B. Wanner, assistant county administrator, Fairbanks has approximately $7,000 in his budget for this purpose.

That $7,000 plus the county's $2,500 and a contribution from the city, which could be less than the $4,000 originally allocated, should cover the salary of a third attorney through the end of the current fiscal year, June 30, 1991.

Fairbanks will have to return to the City Council next week to request the allocation for a second time due to the State Compensation Board's action.

He will then have to get approval from the state board, even though it will not contribute any funding for the current fiscal year.

He said he plans to request that the $25,000 per year job be made permanent for fiscal 1992, which begins July 1.

Fairbanks said the increased revenues coming to the county and city from drunken driving fines and a change in the asset forfeiture law in drug cases mean the county will "indirectly get paid back."